Using Commas

Use Commas in Lists

•    Use commas to separate three or more elements in a series. 

•   A comma is optional (but recommended) before “and”

·       Business Administration involves courses in communication, computer applications, accounting, and business principles.

Between Adjectives

•    Use commas between coordinate adjectives

•   (if the comma could be replaced by “and”)

·       A warm, wet puddle appeared by the dog.

·       A warm and wet puddle appeared by the dog.

•    No comma is needed between adjectives that act separately

•   (cannot be replaced by “and”)

–              This was the third smelly mess of the week.

•   (no commas)

Use Commas to Interrupt

•    To set off the names of people being addressed

·       We look forward to your visit, Miss Piggy.

•    To restate names or titles (appositives)

·       Arnold Ziffle, Manager of Pork Processing, comes in every Monday.

•    To interject comments

·       We will, of course, keep your resume on file.

·       It is a profitable thing, if one is wise, to seem foolish. Aeschylus

Joining Independent Clauses

•    Use commas to join independent clauses with a coordinating conjunction: and, or, but, nor, so

·       Show me a man with both feet firmly on the ground, and I will see a man who can't get his pants off!

·       It's a small world, but I wouldn't want to have to paint it. Steven Wright

•    A comma may not be needed with short clauses

·       Vote early and vote often. Al Capone

·       You can lead a boy to college but you can't make him think.

Introductory Material

·       When he looked over my resume, he shook his head sadly. (introductory clause)

·       As a matter of fact, I do own the road. (introductory phrase)

·       Okay, I’ll buy it. (interjection)

Dependent Clauses

·       When a dependent clause begins the sentence, a comma is needed.

•   Because he needed money, Hal robbed a gas station.

–              A comma is not needed when a dependent clause ends the sentence.

•   Hal robbed a gas station because he was too lazy to work.

Commas Clarify Meaning

•    Use commas, when needed, to clarify meaning

·       Those who can, do.  Those who can’t, teach.

•    Notice how punctuation changes the meaning in these sentences

·       A woman, without her man, is nothing.

·       A woman: without her, man is nothing.

Do Not Use Commas

·       To separate a subject from a verb

•   Employers all over the world are looking for people with computer skills. (no commas)

•   My supervisor noticed that money was missing. (no commas)

·       When joining short independent clauses

•   You are ugly and your mother dresses you funny.

Do Not Use Commas

·       When joining restrictive clauses 

•   You should wear shoes at work that are comfortable for walking.

–  (The underlined clause is essential to the meaning)

However

–              Non-restrictive clauses do require commas

•   I recommend that you buy work shoes that are both comfortable and stylish, but these can be hard to find.

–  (The underlined clause is not essential to the meaning)